Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Psychology

Overview

Our cutting-edge BSc Psychology offers a unique approach to the study of human behaviour. The degree will develop your understanding of the processes shaping how individuals think, feel, behave, and interact, via analysis of critical issues in contemporary psychology.

Why Study BSc Psychology at Goldsmiths

• Real-world relevance: You will analyse real-world issues through a bio-psycho-social model, connecting theory, research, policy, and practice. Themed teaching blocks will address critical topics including social justice, health and wellbeing, and artificial intelligence.
• Integrated research focus: The curriculum places a strong emphasis on research, equipping you with quantitative and qualitative research skills, integrated seamlessly with module content. You'll have access to our fantastic facilities. These include behavioural testing facilities, an EEG suite for brain research, an infant lab with state-of-the-art neuroimaging methods, virtual reality laboratories and a visual perception and attention laboratory.
• Empowered learning experience: We put community at the heart of your learning journey, using group activities, peer support, an academic mentor, and active engagement with the world-leading research of the department. You will develop your own bespoke curriculum through a combination of optional modules in your second and final years.
• Comprehensive preparation for diverse careers: Our contemporary and creative curriculum prepares you for a broad range of careers. You will develop transferable skills essential for graduate level employment. This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and gives you eligibility for Graduate Membership for Chartered Membership, which is required to study various postgraduate courses and to become a fully Chartered Psychologist.

Contact the Department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Peter Holland.

UCAS Code

C800

Entry Requirements

• A-level: BBB
• BTEC: DDM
• IB: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655

Length

3 years full-time or 4 years full-time with a placement year

Fees

• Home - full-time: £9535
• International - full-time: £21900

Department

Psychology

Accreditation

The degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the Society and also the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

What You'll Study

Year 1 (Credit Level 4)

Learning will be structured across three interdisciplinary themes:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Cognition and Culture
• Life and Society

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Term 1: Explore the question ‘what does it mean to be well’, drawing on psychological theories and research.
• Term 2: Explore the biological and neurological basis for wellbeing and mental health.

Cognition and Culture

• Term 1: Explore what cognition is and how it is measured.
• Term 2: Explore neuroscientific and behavioural foundations of perception, imagery, attention and action.

Life and Society

• Term 1: Introduce the concept of the self, considering ourselves at the personal, interpersonal and societal levels.
• Term 2: Focus on human development as a dynamic and interactionist process.

Research, Personal and Professional Development

• Module title | Credits
  • Research Methods and Statistics I | 30 credits
  • Personal and Professional Development I | 15 credits
  • Applications of Psychological Research | 15 credits

Year 2 (Credit Level 5)

As in Year 1, learning will be structured across our three core interdisciplinary themes:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Cognition and Culture
• Life and Society

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Term 1: Conceptualise mental health as being changeable along a spectrum from good to very poor.
• Term 2: Address the overarching question, ‘What can mess us up?’ by drawing on psychological theories and research.

Cognition and Culture

• Term 1: Look at how we learn, how we remember and how we make decisions.
• Term 2: Look at higher level aspects of human cognition, namely, metacognition, language and consciousness.

Life and Society

• Term 1: Introduce political and societal psychology and the intergroup context of human behavior.
• Term 2: Zoom in to consider the maturational processes of the developing child as a biological organism and zoom out to consider the child as a member of a family, a community, and a society.

Research, Personal and Professional Development

• Module title | Credits
  • Research Methods and Statistics II | 30 credits
  • Personal and Professional Development II | 15 credits
  • Science Communication in Psychology | 15 credits

Optional Placement Year

The degree includes an optional placement year between the second and final year of study. You will be responsible for securing a placement, but we can support you through this process.

Year 3/4 (Credit Level 6)

Research Dissertation

In your final year, you will carry out an individual research project under the close supervision of a member of faculty in the Department of Psychology (45 credits).

Option Modules

In your final year you can choose a bespoke selection of five option modules. The modules currently available are:

• Module title | Credits
  • Clinical Psychology: Common Presentations and Interventions | 15 credits
  • Multivariate Statistical Methods in Psychology | 15 credits
  • Cross-Cultural and Individual Differences in Attention and Awareness | 15 credits
  • Topics in Neuropsychology | 15 credits
  • Psychology and Law | 15 credits
  • Behavioural Genetics | 15 credits
  • Addictive Behaviours | 15 credits
  • Psychological Approaches to Music | 15 credits
  • The Interpersonal Self | 15 credits
  • Neurodevelopment, Neurodiversity and Education | 15 credits
  • Cognitive Neuroscience | 15 credits
  • Social Psychology of Social Problems | 15 credits
  • Psychology of the Arts, Aesthetics and Attraction | 15 credits
  • Introduction to Coding With MATLAB | 15 credits
  • Leadership and Talent Management | 15 credits

Teaching Style

Teaching in Years 1 and 2 occurs in themed blocks, with each theme consisting of a range of lectures, seminars, practicals, and small group/independent work.

Assessment

In Years 1 and 2, each theme will have diverse assessments that are designed to reflect multiple important skills for further study and future employment.

Credits and Levels of Learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6.

Note about Optional Modules

The optional module list is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year.

Study Routes

As well as this BSc Psychology degree, we offer these parallel streams of study should you wish to specialise in a particular area:

• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience
• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Psychology

Professional Placement

All Goldsmiths BSc Psychology degrees contain an optional placement year between the second and final year of study. You will be responsible for securing a placement, but we can support you through this process.

Facilities and Resources

The Department of Psychology has a wealth of specialist labs and facilities that enable students and academics to engage in cutting-edge research.

Careers

Students from the BSc Psychology degree go on to a broad range of careers and future study in areas including:

• Clinical psychology
• Occupational psychology
• Market research
• Advertising
• Media psychology
• Criminal/forensic psychology
• Consultancy
• Research psychology

Skills

Throughout the degree you will receive a thorough training in:

• The design and evaluation of empirical research
• Statistical analysis
• Hands-on lab skills
• The use of specialist psychology-relevant software

In addition, you'll develop the following transferable skills:

• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• The ability to look at issues from different perspectives
• Data and information processing skills
• Reflection skills
• Self motivation
• Planning and organisation skills
• Oral and written communication skills

Skills and Employability Training

The Department of Psychology has its own Skills and Employability Programme for students, starting in the first term with a full first-year course on the topic.

Entry Requirements

We accept the following qualifications:

• A-level: BBB
• BTEC: DDM
• International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
• Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
• Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
• European Baccalaureate: 75%
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

Additional Requirements

You should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 in GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics or Statistics, and English.

International Qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications.

Alternative Qualifications and Experience

See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees

These are the UG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £9535
• International - full-time: £21900

Funding Opportunities

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying.